Denise L. Gentile
NV · Eighth Judicial District Court Family Division Judge, Department F
Denise Gentile has been a Clark County family court judge since 2015. She practiced divorce, custody and adoption law for more than 20 years and ran her own firm.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 8 records
Lawyers rated Gentile's legal ability 4.17 out of 5 in the Review-Journal's 2025 performance survey. Each legal question received 43 responses.
December 7, 2025
Source: reviewjournal.com
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her joint custody award and business value in the Byrd divorce. It reversed her child support and alimony math because she used the husband's older, lower tax return.
February 5, 2020
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals reversed her order making a father put his child's Social Security benefit into a separate account, because federal law bars that. It upheld her award of attorney fees.
April 29, 2019
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her award of attorney fees to an ex-wife after contempt hearings, even though she did not name the rule she used. One of the three appeals judges dissented.
June 9, 2017
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her final custody order in Doty v. Dubin. In a separate order the same day, it reversed her $750 attorney-fee award in a protection-order dispute because she gave no reasons for it.
January 25, 2017
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
Took office as a Clark County Family Court judge in Department F. Voters elected her on November 4, 2014.
January 5, 2015
Source: nvcourts.gov
Received the Las Vegas Review-Journal's endorsement over sitting Judge Bill Gonzalez for Family Court Department F in the 2014 election.
September 23, 2014
Source: reviewjournal.com
Received the endorsement of Veterans In Politics International for Family Court Department F in the 2014 election, after a public interview panel.
March 12, 2014
Source: veteransinpolitics.org
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her order making a mother pay $65,560 for marital property she failed to protect, and her denial of the mother's custody request. The court found no sign of bias.
May 30, 2017Favorable on Impartiality
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 10 favorable · 8 unfavorable
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her order keeping joint custody of a nearly blind young child between parents in California and Nevada. She had denied both parents' requests for primary custody.
July 8, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Supreme Court reversed her order removing a grandmother as a baby's guardian. It ruled she did not give fair notice or a chance to be heard, and did not apply the required legal factors.
September 28, 2023Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Supreme Court reversed her dismissal of a prison inmate's unopposed request for a legal name change. It ruled that judges must give a real reason before denying such a request.
October 20, 2022Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her divorce decree in Stucke v. Stucke after a five-day trial. This included joint physical custody and an equal split of a house as shared marital property.
June 22, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her order enforcing a 2007 divorce decree on splitting the equity in a home. It found she could decide the motion on the written filings without a hearing.
January 24, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Supreme Court upheld her order giving a mother primary custody and letting her move with the child to Texas for a promotion.
May 15, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals reversed her refusal to hold a full hearing on a mother's request for primary custody. The mother said the father had not used his custody time and struggled with alcohol.
April 17, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her denial of a father's request to change custody without a full hearing. It found strong evidence for her decision.
July 11, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals reversed her denial of a woman's request to cancel a Michigan divorce order. She had not decided whether the Michigan court had power over the case.
October 17, 2018Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals reversed her custody ruling in a divorce. She gave no reasons for denying the mother sole legal custody. Her finding that the father had no ongoing mental health problem went against the evidence.
May 18, 2018Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals reversed her order letting a father move a child to New York (Nance v. Ferraro). It ruled she was wrong to block the mother's evidence of past domestic violence.
April 5, 2018Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Supreme Court upheld her order ending a father's parental rights. It found strong evidence that he had abandoned the child.
March 15, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals reversed her dismissal of a grandfather's visitation case. She had dismissed it for faulty legal notice, but the parents had already taken part without objecting.
August 17, 2017Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her order making a mother pay $65,560 for marital property she failed to protect, and her denial of the mother's custody request. The court found no sign of bias.
May 30, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her denial of a mother's request after a divorce to change child support and to divide assets left out of the divorce.
April 28, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals upheld her denial of a father's request to change custody. She had found that the mother was the child's main custodial parent.
April 28, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
The Nevada Court of Appeals reversed her order giving a father primary custody of a child. It upheld her finding on his alleged abuse, but said she gave no clear findings on the mother's claim that he abused her.
September 16, 2016Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
Represented Abigail Schwartz, with The Dickerson Law Group, in a divorce appeal before the Nevada Supreme Court. The court upheld the amount of her alimony but sent the case back for a new look at paying it as one lump sum.
March 4, 2010Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov
Past race Denise L. Gentile ran in:
- District Court Judge, Family Division, Department F · November 3, 2026 · Clark County, Nevada · incumbent